An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius

The Fifth is called Eustyle; viz. where the Pillars are distant from one another by a more convenient Proportion than in any of the other kind. The distance consists of two Diameters of the Pillars, and one Fourth part of the Diameter: It has also this in particular, That the Intercolumniation in the middle is larger than the rest, having three Diameters of the Pillars; for this reason it surpasseth all others in Beauty, Solidity, and Convenience. See Tab. III.

Although the Essentials of these five Kinds, consist in the Proportion that is between the Diameter of the Pillar, and its Intercolumniation, they are also different by the Proportion which is between the Diameter of the Pillar and its height for the Genders or sorts, in which the Pillars are close one to another, ought to have the lesser Pillars; and in that kind, where the Pillars are in a greater distance one from another, they ought to be greater.

Lib. 4.

Cap. 7.But it’s true, notwithstanding that these Proportions are not always observ'd, and that very often, to the Ionick and Corinthian Pillars, which are the smallest of all, Intercolumniations are given, which are proper to those of the Thuscan Order, where the Pillars are the greatest.

But the Ordinary Practice is, to Lib. 3.

Chap. 2. give to the Pillars of the Areostyle kind, the Magnitude of the 8th part of their height.

As to the Diastyle and Eustyle, the height is divided into Eight parts and an half, to give one to the breadth.

In the Systyle Kind, the Height is divided into Nine parts and an half, and one is given to the thickness.

In the Picnostyle, the thickness of the Pillar is the 10th part of the height, the reason of these different Proportions is founded upon this, that these Pillars do seem to lose of their thickness according as they are in Proportion great or long; and it’s likewise for this Reason, that it is thought convenient to have the Pillars in the Corners thicker by a 50th part. See Tab. II. and Tab. III.

ART. III

OF the Five Orders of Architecture

THE Five Orders of Architecture are, the Thuscan, the Dorick, the Ionick, the Corinthian, and the Compound.

These Orders were Invented to satisfie the Design that might be had of making Fabricks more or less Massy, and more or less adorn'd, for the Distinction of these Orders consists in two things, that as the Thuscan and Dorick Order are more massy and less adorn'd, so the Corinthian and Compound are Slenderer and Richer, the Ionick holds the Middle, as well in its Proportions, as its Ornaments, being less massy and more adorn'd than the Thuscan and the Dorick, and more massy and less adorn'd than the Compound and the Corinthian.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 1.

Præf. 4.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 7. Though Vitruvius hath only divided Architecture into Three Orders; viz. The Dorick, the Ionick and the Corinthian; he doth not for all that forget to give the Proportions of the Thuscan, and speak of the Compound.

ART. IV

Of Things that are Common to several Orders

Before we treat of the Differences of these Five Orders, it would be proper to speak of those Things that are common to several Orders; as are the Steps, Pedestals, the Diminution of Pillars, their Channelling, Piedements, Cornices, and Acroteres.

The Steps which are before the Temple, ought always to be of an Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. the end, that having put the right Foot in mounting the first Step, it may likewise be upon the last.

They ought not to be more than 6 Inches 10 Lines high, nor less than 6 Inches.

Their breadth ought to be proportion'd to their height, and this Proportion ought to be of 3 to 4; so that if the Steps be 6 parts high, which is Lib. 9.

Chap. 2. 3 times 2, they must be 8 broad, which is 4 times 2; following the Proportion of a Triangular Rectangle invented by Pythagoras.

The Landing-places ought not to be narrower than 16 Inches and an Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. half, nor broader than 22 Inches, and all the Steps that are round about a Fabrick should be all of the same breadth.

The Pedestals which support many Pillars of the same Rank, will be much handsomer if one make them jet out before every Pillar like a Joynt-Stool; for otherwise, if the Bases were all of one size, they would resemble a Channel.

If Leaning-places, or Elbow-places are to be betwixt the Pedestals, it’s necessary that they be as high as the Pedestals, and that the Cornices of the Pedestals, and of the Leaning or Elbow-places be equal, and have a true Proportion one to another.

All the Pillars ought to go diminishing towards the top, to augment their Strength, and render them more Lib. 5.

Chap. 1. Beautiful, imitating the Bodies of Trees, which are greater at the Bottom than at the Top. But this Diminution must be lesser in the great Pillars which have their highest part further from the Sight, and which by Consequence makes them at the top seem lesser, according to the ordinary Effect Lib. 3.

Chap. 2. of Perspective; which always diminisheth Objects according to the measure that they are distant from the Eye.

The Rule of this different Diminution is, that a Pillar that is 15 Foot high, ought to have in the upper part 5 parts of 6 in the which the Diameter of the Base of the Pillar is divided; that which is from 15 to 20 Foot, ought to have 5 and an half of the 6 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 20 to 30, ought to have 6 of the 7 parts of the Diameter; that which is from 30 to 40, must have 6 and an half of 7 and an half of the Diameter; that which is from 40 to 50, must have 7 of 8 of the Diameter. These Diminutions do not belong to the Thuscan Order, whose Pillars are much more diminished; as we shall show hereafter.

Besides this Diminution which is made towards the top of the Pillar, there is another below, which makes the Pillar about the middle swell like a Belly; the measure of this Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. swelling is taken from the magnitude which makes up the Distance between the Channels.

There is another sort of Diminution of Pillars, which is Lib. 3.

Chap. 2.made of one Pillar in respect of another; It is of 2 sorts, viz. when a second rank is placed upon the first, for then the second Pillar must be lesser a fourth part than those below, or when Portico’s are made that have Pillars in the Corners, for those in the middle must be less than those in the Corners, a 50th part.

The Channellings are so called, because they are as it Lib. 4.

Chap. 1.were Demi-Channels, which descend from the top of the Pillar to the bottom; they represented the Plaites of the Garments of Women, which the Pillars resembled.

There are three sorts of Channellings, the two first are particular and proper to the Dorick Order; the third is common to the Ionick, CorinthianLib. 4.

Chap. 3. and Compound: The two first are more plain and simple, and fewer in number than the others.

The most Simple is that which is not hollowed at all, and which hath only Pans and flat Fronts or Faces.

The other is a little hollowed; to make this hollowness, a Square must be made, whose Side must be equal to the Pan, in which the Channelling is to be made, and having put one foot of the Compass in the middle Lib. 3.

Chap. 3. of the Square, make a crooked Line from one Angle of the Channelling to the other, both these Channellings are made up to the number of Twenty.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 1.

Lib. 4.

Chap. 4.The other Orders have 24, and sometimes 32, when it is design'd to make the Pillars seem greater than they are; for the Eye judgeth that all things are greater when they have more and different Marks, which lead as it were the Sight to more Objects at once.

These Channellings are deeper than those of the Dorick Order, and the depth ought to be just so much, that a Carpenter’s Rule being put into the Cavity, touch with its Angle the bottom, and with its sides the two Corners of the Channelling. Vitruvius hath not taught us what the Proportions of the Channelling should be, in respect of the Fillet which makes up the space between the Channellings, nor what the breadth of the Fillet should be, which he hath establish'd for the rule of the swelling Belly of the Pillar.